ARE YOU A LIVING EPISTLE, OR A DEAD PLANT?
09-20-09
(John 9:1-7) And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man [“that sat and begged” v8] which was blind from his birth.
And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus
answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest [Gk:
rendered apparent, shown] in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night
cometh, when no man can work. [Why not?] As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world [i.e., when
I am gone, the night cometh when no man can work]. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made
clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay [representing his body], And said unto
him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed
[manifesting his obedience], and came seeing.
1. Commentary: “and came seeing” Why did this blind man receive his sight? The blind man received his
sight (a gift from God) because he obeyed the voice that he heard from above by doing, by
manifesting his obedience, exactly as the voice commanded. All four soils (everyone) in the Parable
of the Sower heard the Word of God. Only the “good ground” did anything. Do we not hear the same
“still small voice” (1 King 19:12) in our subconscious mind? Had the blind man not gone to the pool
and washed, thereby manifesting his obedience, would he have been healed? Or, had he gone instead to
his home, or to the synagogue, thereby manifesting his disobedience, would he have been healed?
2. (Luke 17:12-14) And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers,
which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And
when he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass,
that, as they went [manifesting their obedience], they were cleansed.
Commentary: The blind beggar and the ten lepers received in common the command from Jesus Christ to
“Go” and do a specific thing (i.e., works), and, it is quite evident that ONLY AS THEY MANIFESTED
THEIR OBEDIENCE, did they receive their healing, i.e., their spiritual growth, their salvation. Are you
doing some thing for the Lord? Are you manifesting your obedience to the Lord’s command, or are you
hiding the Lord’s “money [Gk: silver]” (Luke 19:15), symbolically the gospel of salvation, from your
friends, neighbors, and relatives in a napkin? God wants you to manifest your obedience as a living
witness, being “the epistle of Christ” (a) to all the world. “The god of this world [Gk: aion]” (2 Cor 4:4)
exclaims that “money” has value (b), contrary to the God of “the world [Gk: kosmos]” (Mark 16:15) who
reveals that only the gospel has value, “everlasting” value (Rev 14:6). Who is right? How do we get
treasures in Heaven? By saving our money? If you do indeed obey the Lord, you will receive your healing,
i.e. your salvation, but only as you go.” Please note that the following command given to all born again
saints is preceded by another “Go” (c):
a. (2 Cor 3:2,3) Ye are our epistle [Gk: a written message: letter] written in our hearts, known
and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ
ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of
stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.
b. (1 Tim 6:10) For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after,
they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through [among thorns] with many
sorrows. [i.e., “with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to
perfection” Luke 8:14]
c. (Mark 16:15) And he said unto them [His disciples], Go ye into all the world [Gk: kosmos],
and preach the gospel to [share the gospel “money” with] every creature.
3. (James 2:19-26) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils [fallen angels,
unclean spirits, demons] also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man [Gk: empty], that
faith [Gk: belief] without works [Gk: deeds, doing, labor] is dead? Was not Abraham our father
justified [Gk: rendered just or innocent: made righteous] by works, when he had offered Isaac his son
upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought [Gk: co-operated] with his works, and by works was
faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was
imputed [Gk: counted esteemed, reckoned] unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend
of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was
not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them
out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.